1946 | Talbot-Lago T26 Record

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- First-year model: 1946
- Chassis number 34
- Fantastic post-war artifact, also a piece of French history
- Absolute top
- 4-speed pre-selector gearbox

Talbot-Lago, or simply 'Talbot,' was a French automotive brand that emerged in 1936 from 'Automobiles Talbot France,' which had previously faced financial difficulties. Antonio Lago, the businessman who breathed new life into Talbot in 1936 under the name 'Talbot-Lago,' acquired the rights to the company with the goal of producing extremely luxurious and sporty cars to compete with brands like Delahaye, Delage, and Hotchkiss.

Before World War II, Talbot-Lago introduced a series of models to the market, but only four different chassis were designed and distinguished based on length. There was the 'extra short' chassis with a wheelbase of 265 centimeters, the 'short' chassis with a wheelbase of 295 centimeters, the 'normal' chassis with a wheelbase of 320 centimeters, and the 'long' chassis with a wheelbase of 345 centimeters on which all pre-war models were built.

When World War II broke out, production was halted, but Talbot-Lago's think tank remained active in developing a larger inline-six-cylinder engine and a new post-war model.

After the war, Talbot-Lago wasted no time. In 1946, they introduced a new 4.5-liter inline-six-cylinder engine mounted in a highly sophisticated new model they brought to the market: the Talbot-Lago Record. Various variants were built, and in 1959, the company was absorbed by Simca.

Today, Talbot-Lago models are highly sought after in the vintage car market. Almost every collector wants one or already has one. Their grandeur seems timeless, and, if anything, the value continues to rise.

Talbot-Lago Record T26

The Lago Record T26 is undoubtedly the post-war flagship model of Talbot-Lago. It was introduced in 1946, equipped with the brand-new 4.5-liter inline-six-cylinder engine. This six-cylinder is operated by a 4-speed pre-selector gearbox, fed by two carburetors, producing an impressive 170 horsepower, which was a significant figure at that time.

T26 stands for the fiscal horsepower in the French registration system. Furthermore, it was available as a two-door closed coupe, a two-door convertible, or a four-door saloon. Each body was finished in-house by Talbot-Lago, although conventionally external bodybuilders were usually employed to tailor-build them. However, this was not the case in the post-war years when the economy was still very fragile. Only a handful of units were built with external bodybuilders.

The Record T26 was produced in very limited numbers, reportedly only 441 units ever built. It is the dream of every enthusiast, also an immortal classic that has been embraced with a lot of history.

Technical information:

Body work

- Length (cm): 488 (192 inch)
- Width (cm): 177 (70 inch)
- Height (cm): 150 (59 inch)
- Wheelbase (cm): 313 (123 inch)
- Weight (kg): ±1500 (±3300 lbs)

Mechanics

- Engine: 4482 cc straight-six front-engine
- Valve gear: 12
- Fuel system: 2 carburettors
- Gearbox: 4-speed pre-selector Wilson gearbox
- Transmission: RWD
- Right-steered
- power: 170 hp (127 kW) at 4200 t/m
- Top speed: 170 km/h (106 mph)